TALLER THAN THE REST: The construction of tower will start by July is likely to be ready in the next three years.

Hyderabad: The historic Charminar might soon lose its status as Hyderabad's most famous structure.

The state Industrial Infrastructure Corporation has given the final nod to the city's skyscraper zone, and a landmark building, to be located in a 100-acre Business District in Manchirevula near Hyderabad.
"In the area that the building is coming up, the minimum height of a building should be 30-storeys. The building that we are making will be 100-plus storeyed building surrounded by a series of 10-12 30-storeyed towers. It will be a compact business district like Manhattan or Nariman point," said APIIC Vice-Chairman, B PAcharya.

The proposed Trade Tower will house corporates, hotels and other establishments. 22 international players participated in the recently-concluded bidding process.

"We have kept very stiff pre-qualification norms and 10 were finally selected in the pre-qualification round. Ultimately two parties have responded and we are going to finalise them shortly - one from Israel, one from India," said Acharya.

The APIIC had initially proposed to build 60-floor twin towers. Teams were sent to study the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Sears Towers in Chicago and high-rise buildings in Dubai.

Based on their reports, a single trade tower was approved. At present, the 16-storey Babu Khan Estate, built in 1987, is the tallest commercial building in Hyderabad followed by the 13-storeyed Haj House.

Since the proposed trade tower will be located in the skyscraper zone, getting clearances from the municipal and fire services authorities will be just a formality.

According to the APIIC, the construction of the trade tower will start by July this year and it is likely to be ready in the next three years.

Now Hyderabad will soon house the tallest building in the country. A hundred storey trade tower surrounded by 10 to 12 rows of over 30-floor buildings, reports CNBC-TV18.

This will be the main feature of the 100-acre business district which will be constructed near Hyderabad.

After almost a year of discussion, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation has given the final nod for the trade tower. The multi-crore project will begin latest by June and it is likely to be ready in the next three years.

Anil on top of 100-storey tower
Hyderabad, July 6: Anil Ambani’s Reliance Energy has bagged the 100-storied trade tower-cum-business district project at Manchirevula on the city outskirts. Reliance Energy quoted Rs 6.57 crores per acre while its competitor Elbit Medical Imaging, an Israeli firm, quoted Rs 6.10 crores per acre. The upset price was Rs 6 crores per acre and the project is estimated to cost Rs 5,400 crores.

Noted architect Hafeez contractor also favoured the design for the tower submitted by Reliance Energy. In all, the overall marks given to Reliance were 75.40 out of 100 while Elbit got 71.29. Reliance Energy will start construction by September and will engage the services of world renowned architect Norman Foster. Company officials expressed happiness at getting the contract since the opening of financial bids coincided with the death anniversary of founder Dirubhai Ambani.

The tower with 100 floors will be about 450 metres tall and will accommodate offices, hotels and malls. “The company will be given the confirmation letter in a few days,” said Mr B.P. Acharya, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. “The trade tower has to be constructed in three years and the business district in five years.”

APIIC put a pre-bid condition that the company which bagged the contract should first construct the trade tower in 30 acres and would be given the remaining 50 acres after that. A special purpose vehicle will be set up to execute the project in which Reliance Energy will have 66 per cent equity, Bangalore-based Sobha Developers 23 per cent and APIIC 11 per cent.

REL, Sobha win Rs 6,400cr project in Hyd
BS Reporter / Hyderabad July 7, 2007
A consortium led by Reliance Energy has emerged as the successful bidder for the Rs 6,400 crore business district project proposed in Hyderabad by the state-owned Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation(APIIC).

The project will have three modules, including a 100-plus storied tower, and is scheduled to be completed in three years. The project is expected to be completed in five years.

According to an official of Reliance Energy, the business district project will have a built-up area of about 11 million square feet. This is the first major infrastructure project being taken up by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group in Andhra Pradesh.

Reliance Energy will hold 66% equity in the project while its joint venture partner, Sobha Developers, will hold 23% stake. The remaining 11% equity is held by APIIC towards the land component of the project.

__________________The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth GalbraithWe must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.Elie Wiesel